Sole and heel protecting device for boots, shoes, &amp;c.



No. 731,970. 'PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

J. T. SUTOLIPFE.

SOLE AND HEEL PROTECTING DEVICE FOR BOOTS, SHOES, 6m.

APPLIOATIOH FILED we. 19, 1902.

NO MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN THOMAS SUTCLIFFE, OF PADEI-IAM, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 731,970, dated June 23, 1903. Application filed August 19,1902. S ri No. 120,239. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN THOMAS SUT- CLIFFE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 170 Russell Terrace, Padeham, county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Sole and Heel Protecting Devices for Boots, Shoes, or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to sole and heel protecting devices for boots, shoes, or the like.

My invention has for its object a simplification in the construction in that class of such devices in which undercut grooves are made in the metal holding or fixing plate for the reception of interlocking portions of removable filling-pieces constituting interchange able or renewable wearing-surfaces.

The difficulty has hitherto been to construct a metal plate shaped to the curvature of the heel or sole and to form therein a suitable groove or grooves dovetailed in cross-section either by stamping, forging, or casting and to fit into such groove or grooves the interlocking portion of the said sections or fillingpieces of leather or india -rubber or other wearing surface or material,so as to pass along the same to the required position. My invention is designed to overcome these defects, to simplify the construction, and to provide a plate that is not only readily stamped, cast, or forged, but will also permit without the slightest difficulty of the introduction of the interlocking portion of the said filling-pieces into the said dovetail groove from different points in its varying shape. To enable me to do this, I first construct the said metal fixingplate without any base at the bottom of the dovetail or similar groove or grooves, the plate being completely out through where it is grooved. Secondly, at desired points in the grooves I cut away the overhanging edges thereof or here the same to make a wider opening, slot, or hole of sufficient size to enable the interlocking portion of the sectional filling-pieces to be introduced from any of these points, and then moved forward into the dovetail or like groove or grooves, and thereby be retained in position at any of these points, the top portion or wearing-surface thereof to come flush against each other, and cover the top surface of the plate; The wearing-surfaces may optionally be provided with tongues at one end to interlock into corresponding recesses in the neighboring piece of leather, in- (Ilia-rubber, or the like material of which they may be made- Thirdly, at one end of the metal fixing-plate I cut the groove through to the edge of the plate at one side, and through this side opening the interlocking portion of the last section maybe introduced, its tongue engaging with a recess in the neighboring section, and thereby the wh ole of the sections are retained firmly in position-2'. 6., they are thereby prevented from slipping out of their respective grooves.

The wearing-surfaces and the interlocking portions of the sections may be formed out of leather by nailing pieces together to present the appearance of an I in cross-section, the lower portion being for admission into the dovetail groove or grooves and the upper portion serving as the wearing-surface, which is intended to entirely cover the metal plate and preserve it from wear, the respective sections being renewable at will as and when they become worn. The area of the boot-heel remaining uncovered may be covered by a piece or pieces of leather secured thereto by nails, such leather pieces being equal in thickness to the combined depth of the metal plate and its leather wearing -surface, re spectively. As a modified means the interlocking portions may consist of studs of metal formed with inclined or other suitably-shaped heads which may fit into or engage with and slide into position along the dovetail groove or grooves. These studs may be embedded into the material of the wearing-surface or fixed by any other suitable means.

The metal plate is formed with counter sunk holes and is secured to the heel or solo by screws or nails.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1is a plan of a heel-plate constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of such a heel-plate fitted with sectional pieces of wearing material, while Fig. is an elevation of the breast of a boot-heel fitted with such heel-plate and wearing-surfaces, which are shown in cross-section.

Referring to Fig. 1, I construct my improved heel-plate of horseshoe shape or of a similar shape and formed to suit the curvathe sections in position.

ture of the boot-heel. The heel-plate is 'secured to the boot-heel by screws or nails driven through countersunk holes 1. I stamp, out, or cast in the heel-plate open slots 2 and 3, dovetailed or undercut in cross-section and having entrance holes or slots 3, 1, 5, and 6 for the admission thereto of interlocking portions or studs 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the wearing-surfaces. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.) The open or through slots of dovetail formation and the admission-holes may be readily out or stamped in the said heelplates. After the heel-plate has been secured in position the stud 10 of wearing surface or section 12 is first introduced into its entrancehole 6 and pushed along the slot to the position shown in dotted lines. The stud 9 of the next section 13 is next introduced into its hole 5 and brought into position shown, the tongue let of such section fitting into corresponding groove formed in neighboring section 12. Studs 7 and Set section 15 are now admitted into the holes 3 and 1 designed for their reception in the slot 3 at the opposite side of the heel-plate and are brought into position until its recessed end engages with the tongue 16.

It will thus be seen that by the above construction of metal plate, with clean out through dovetail keyhole-slots and the form a tion of the several holes and slots in the manner described, not only is the manufacture of the plate greatly facilitated, but I am enabled to fit the respective sections in position from any required point in the plate.

To retain the respective sections in their proper place, I make a slot 1.1 of the shape shown in Fig. 1, having its edges undercut and opening toward the side, whereby the short section 18 (shown in Fig. 2) may be introduced and secured by its stud being passed through such slot, an d its tongue or projection becoming engaged with the recess in the neighboring section the whole of the sections become thereby locked in position. Any other suitable means may be employed for securing Fig. 3 shows clearly the formation ofthe clean-cut through-slots 2 in the metal plate and the dovetail shape of their inclined sides to receive and retain in position interlocking portion or studs, such as 3 and 10, of the respective sections.

A layer or layers of leather or like material, equal in thickness to the combined depth of the heel-plate and sections, respectively,

and of the required shape, may be fitted into the space surrounded bythe heel-plate, so as to make a complete cover for the boot-heel, and then be secured by nails or screws.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In protecting devices for the soles and heels of boots, shoes or the like, the combination of a plate having an undercut slot therein,

and a plurality of covering-sections fitted to said plate, each of said sections having a stud or studs engaging with the undercut slot in said plate, and each covering-section acting to retain the adjacent sections in position.

2. In protecting devices for the soles and heels of boots, shoes or the like, a metal plate of horseshoe shape, clean-cut through-holes and dovetail slots in such plate, sectional pieces of leather or like material to cover the surface of such plates, and interlocking tongues and recesses in the said sections, and studs or interlocking portion for securing said sections,substantially as described and illustrated.

3. In protecting devices for the soles and heels of boots, shoes or the like, a metal plate of horseshoe shape, clean-cut through-holes and dovetail slots in. such plate, sectional pieces of leather or like material to cover the surface of such plates, interlocking tongues and recesses in the said sections, and studs or interlocking portion for securing said sections, and an open-sided and undercut slot at the end of plate to retain thewhole of the said sections in position, and prevent themslipping out, substantially as described and illustrated.

4; In protecting devices for the soles and heels of boots, shoes or the like, aplate having a plurality of undercut slots therein, one of said slots being open-ended, and a pluralityof covering-pieces having studs engaging with said undercut slots, the covering-piece engaging with said open-ended slot acting to retain the other covering-pieces in position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN THOMAS .SUTOLIFFE.

\Vitnesses:

T. RICHMOND, WV. IDEsoN. 

